Horses galloping onwards after their racing careers end

THERE is a life after the finish life for racehorses. No fewer than 14, including Aintree Grand National winners Numbersixvalverde (2006) and Silver Birch (2007), were still in action at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show last month.

They played their part in showcasing how Irish-bred or trained racehorses can make useful and suitable riding horses — which is the thinking behind the racehorse to riding horse classes now seen at many top horse shows.

Sponsored by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, the racehorse to riding horse class in Dublin was judged by noted Tipperary horseman Tim Hyde and British jumps jockey Harry Skelton, and it was a big crowd puller at Ballsbridge.